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Former Longmont man sentenced to three years in prison in weapons case

By Pierrette J. ShieldsLongmont Times-Call

Posted:
02/01/2013 06:04:25 PM MST

Updated:
02/01/2013 06:05:07 PM MST

Smalley

BOULDER -- A Boulder District judge on Friday sentenced a former Longmont man to three years in prison for possession of a weapon by a previous offender.

A Boulder County jury convicted Chester Smalley of the crime in September. Three years was the maximum possible sentence.

"In the current gun control debate, one thing nearly everyone agrees on is the importance of keeping firearms out of the hands of dangerous felons," said Boulder County prosecutor Sean Finn. "This case demonstrates the importance of that goal to both the Longmont Police Department and the office of the District Attorney."

Smalley, a felon, was accused of possessing both a .45-caliber handgun and a knife with a 10-inch-long blade in his home on the 300 block of Southridge Place. Police found the knife, a gun holster and photos of a gun and other weaponry after they served a search warrant on the home he shared with his girlfriend, Anaiah Mitten, who has since died.

The jury found him guilty of possession of the gun, but not the knife.

According to testimony during his trial, Smalley told police he had the weapons to defend himself because his home had twice been robbed in 2010 by three brothers, all of whom have been convicted and sentenced to between 15 and 64 years in prison. He claimed they had taken out a contract on his life and he was scared.

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